Welcome home Abigail!

Well, I didn't think it was going to take me this long to blog, but alas, it has. We are thrilled beyond belief to be home with a happy, healthy, beautiful and cherished little girl. I'll give you the run-down on delivery and then literally FILL this blog with pictures. I think the grand total of photos was in the hundreds...I'm not posting QUITE that many. :) So...

We went in to the hospital as scheduled at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 18, 2012. We were excited and nervous at the same time. But we were both ready to get things rolling.





The plan was for the nurse to give me cervadil and then for me to sleep through the night and then receive pitocin (sorry for my spelling) in the morning and wait for my doctor to come break my water. Here we are, after cervadil and getting ready for bed.



Things didn't go exactly as planned. My body was very ready and while they did give me the cervadil as planned, that's about it. Instead of sleeping through the night, I was in active labor by 4:00 a.m. I was surprised, but thrilled. So from 4:00-6:00 a.m. I just tried to manage my contractions and stay comfortable. David was fantastic and with me every single step of the way. By 6:00 a.m. I was in a lot of pain and dilated to about 4 cm. By 7:00 a.m. I was at 6 cm and my nurse suggested considering getting my epidural soon. I couldn't believe it and wasn't sure if I should get the epidural yet. I hadn't even seen my doctor! She was supposed to come and break my water and start my pitocin! That was the plan! But my contractions were so painful at this point that I went for it and told my nurse to bring on the drugs.

After getting the epidural, which I was extremely nervous about and shouldn't have been, I felt so much for comfortable. I was actually able to try and sleep for a little bit. I would recommend to anyone to get an epidural. My experience was fantastic.

About half-way through my epidural nap, my water broke on it's own. By the time my doctor came by we were well on our way and she said to just carry on! I stalled out a little bit at 7 cm, so they gave me the minimum amount of pitocin to try and regulate my contractions and get me over the hump. Unfortunately, Abigail didn't take to well to the pitocin and her heart rate didn't recover especially well in-between contractions. This all happened over the course of multiple hours. It was decided to just take me off the pitocin and the next time she checked me (around 1:45 in the afternoon), I was at 10 cm and ready to push!

After they brought all the baby gear in and got me set up for pushing, we were on our way. I started pushing around 2:10. Pushing was amazing. I always wondered if I would know how to do it in the moment, and it turns out you just do. In total, I pushed for about an hour and a half. I pushed every other contraction as well so that Abigail's heart rate could get back to baseline each time.

I have to pause here and talk about David. He was so faithful during the labor. He waited on me, he checked on me, he held my hand, kissed my head and took care of me selflessly. During the pushing he was my counselor, my encourager, the "counter," and the reporter of what all was going on. To imagine doing this without him is impossible. There is no better husband than David and experiencing this together, just the two of us, was the most special thing we have ever done. I will never forget a moment of it. I'll never forget him telling me that I could do it when I was pushing as hard as I could or his face when our baby girl was born.

At 3:34 p.m. Abigail Jane Rainwater entered the world screaming as loud as she could. She had pooped before she came out and needed major cleaning up but was perfect in every way. I immediately cried and David went to check on her in the warmer right beside the bed. I could hear her, see her, and watch everything going on. In what seemed like a matter of seconds, she was on my chest. The best moment of my life. Hands down. You can't compare it to anything. She weighed 7 pounds 2 ounces and was 19 inches long. I'll let the pictures tell the rest of the story...























Moving rooms...



Pastor Steve and Mary came by to visit.







Dear friends Jay and Katherine came by. Abigail and Caroline are almost exactly 1 month apart.



Time with Pops and Gammy...





Going home!









Thanksgiving day walk...



For some reason Sooie came along. She has NEVER done this. Very odd. You can see her on the right of the picture.











We are blessed beyond belief. Much more to come!

Induction

I have waited to make this post until we knew it was official and were off the "wait list," but we can now say that we know that our daughter will be born by a certain date! If Abigail does not join us by tomorrow at 8:00 p.m. (Sunday, November 18), we head in to the hospital to start the induction process!

I was able to speak with our doctor on Wednesday and "make a plan" as she put it if I didn't go into labor before our due date. David's grandmother is currently in hospice care and still hanging on. David also have all of Thanksgiving week off from work. David and I had decided that our "ideal" time to induce would be at the beginning of the week so we could capitalize on David's week off and so that Kathy and Mike would feel comfortable leaving Mamaw to come to the birth. I didn't really think that our doctor would be ok with it since our due date is Tuesday, but she said that given our situation she thought it was was fine! We couldn't believe it.

So we were scheduled to go in to the hospital at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday evening, but when you're induced you are put on a wait list. We were not removed from the wait list until today, so I've waited until today to write this post. The only way now that we will not be induced tomorrow night is if they get too busy, in which case they will call us. They will give me Cervadil to hopefully get my labor going and then my doctor will come in early early on Monday morning to break my water. She said, "Let's have you come in on Sunday night and let's have a baby on Monday!"

When I left the office I felt like I was in a dream. We KNEW a date that our baby was going to be born by! These last couple days David and I have really enjoyed talking about it. Our families have been able to make travel plans and we have made last minute preparations at the house. Here I was at 39 weeks!



Today has been a weird/surreal day. We woke up this morning knowing it was our last Saturday without Abigail. We're spending the evening KNOWING it's our last Saturday night without our baby. It's such a special time. We have been childless for 4 1/2 years and we wouldn't change one second of it. Our marriage has grown, we've grown closer to Christ, and we have soaked up this stage. Now we're excited/nervous/anxious/ready/thrilled about the next one. Could we be more thankful on this upcoming Thanksgiving? No. Please join with us as we pray for a safe delivery, healthy baby, strength for me, patience for David, and a joyful arrival home for Abigail Jane Rainwater.

Hello Anna! And hello to 38 weeks!

Yesterday I got a wonderful treat from a long-time friend. Anna Laakman, who has literally been my friend since elementary school, came to visit me for the afternoon! She is currently living and working in Columbia, so she took a half day to come hang out before I have this baby! We just hung around and talked and even went to the Legends for a little shopping. She wanted to see everything about the nursery, and of course I loved showing it to her. She brought Abigail a gift and wrote not me, but Abigail a sweet note for me to read to her when she's old enough. So special. Our friendship hasn't changed a bit, even after all these years. Many more to come!



Today I had my weekly appointment, and praise the Lord, everything still looks wonderful. Today I was 38 weeks 1 day and here's a summary of what Dr. Piquard said:

1. Measuring right at 38 weeks.
2. Heart rate 155 (she's a very consistent little girl).
3. My blood pressure looked perfect.
4. Slightly more than 80% effaced.
5. Abigail even lower than last week and now putting pressure on my veins...causing some mild swelling in my legs and feet. Something to monitor, but not concerning.
6. Size estimation: Somewhere between 7 and 7 1/2 pounds! I love it.
7. Timeline: Dr. Piquard said that IF she sees me next week, we will pick a back-up date the week directly after Thanksgiving to induce. Woohoo! I don't particularly want to be induce...I'd rather go into labor naturally, but if it comes to that, I'll be glad to have that date set.
8. Ready for labor. She said I could literally go into labor tonight, or Abigail could wait all the way to the due date. We shall see.

Historically in my life, I haven't been very good at waiting. If I were being honest about my personality, I tend to like to plan, to know what's coming, to make preparations, check things off lists that I've constructed etc. I thrive in structure. What a lesson pregnancy has taught me. Not only is it basically waiting from start to finish, but I have no control over anything except how I take care of myself in order to take care of Abigail. All I can do is my best for her and pray for her development, although I begun praying for her outside my womb quite a while ago. But somehow, what seemed like forever away, is now. She could come tonight, tomorrow, on Monday, in 8 days, 2 weeks, 2 1/2 weeks! I have no clue and I just can't get over it. I will admit, I'm praying for sooner rather than later, and I wish I could "plan it out." But the Lord is so faithful and has been so faithful to David and I. Sometimes, letting go of my "planning mindset" isn't so bad. Abigail is in the Lord's hands, and isn't He a better planner than me? See you soon Abigail! Want to come tomorrow? :)

37 Week Update

This has been a good week. I've spent a lot of time at home working around the house, and I've also worked up at school two days. I had originally decided in my own mind that today would be my last day to be available to work, but it's actually not. It seems that the times they need me are so few and random, that it is better for me to just say yes if I haven't gone into labor. My boss and I kind-of have a mutual agreement that if I haven't gone into labor, I say yes, and if I have, she finds someone else. That being said, I'm actually working every day next week in the mornings. I'm going to be the Kindergarten Helper, which I can't wait for because it means I get to work with a dear friend Jenny Preston.

On Wednesday I went in to the doctor for another weekly appointment. Everything again looks very very good. My blood pressure was perfect, we were measuring right between 37 and 38 weeks (we were 37 weeks 1 day) and her heart beat was 155.

She said that I am still very nice and thin (80% effaced) and still dilated to 1 cm. She also said she felt like Abigail was even lower than last time and said, "Oh honey, you must have almost zero bladder capacity!" I wanted to laugh and say, "Yes, I am acutely aware of that fact." Regardless, we are so thankful that everything still looks so good and that my body is gearing up for the birth process on it's own.

I am personally feeling quite large. For the most part, I am upbeat and energetic. I have my moments though. These are a hard last couple of weeks of feeling strange in your own body and wishing that daily tasks that you used to do with ease could be simple again. I'm talking about things like putting on my socks, rolling over in bed, or even just picking something up off the floor. I had no idea how many simple actions I took for granted. David is really good at reminding me that I CAN do it, that I WILL make it, and that I'm doing great so far. I couldn't be more thankful for such a supportive husband. Being the supporter isn't easy either. Keeping your wife upbeat and going strong is a full time job.

I am still walking almost every day, so I thought I might mention my every faithful walking partner. Deuce boy is a good ole walker. Always excited, always willing, and always full of energy to keep me going. He doesn't get tired and helps me keep my body moving. Thanks Deuce buddy! Here we are on our walk yesterday!